6 Steps To Starting Your Online Business From Scratch

We know that moving from idea into an actual up-and-running, profitable business can feel overwhelming and like you have a gigantic mountain to climb. But with your dream life in mind, a life where you have control over when, where and how much you work and how much you make; where you feel fulfilled and joyful in that your efforts recognized are making a real difference, nothing can stop you.

The great news is, you don’t have to figure this out on your own. We’ve had time to reflect on what worked really well for us, and what we would have done differently, and we’re so excited to share this with you and get you on the right track from the get-go! We wish we had this resource when we were starting out!

Check the items off as you go. Keep taking action because small steps add up to big results.

Here are the 6 key steps of what you’ll want to conquer first, in order!

Uncover your offering: figure out what you can start offering right now, that will set your soul on fire and provide real value to others (here’s how).

Join an online community, find a mentor or coach: There’s no point in reinventing the wheel. There are tons of awesome ladies out there who started out just like you. Like us! Tegan and Gill at NatPark Collective! Remember, empowered women empower women. We’re here to raise each other up so we can all succeed and life the lives of our dreams, cheersing and sharing tips along the way! There’s enough room at the top for all of us!

Get clear on your “WHY”: Think about why you’re making a change in your life right now. This is what is going to keep you going everyday. Keep it front of mind to keep yourself moving forward TOWARDS the life and business of your dreams. Don’t focus on moving AWAY from the life you don’t want. Leave that in the dust, sister! (Refer to step 1 for help).

Decide on your business name and secure it:Here’s how to pick a name. You’ll want to make sure no one else is using it and that your domain is available. Check it out on GoDaddy.com (that’s what we used). Secure your name on any social media platforms you may use in the future (you can decide which ones to focus on later).

Brand it! The foundation of your business and the most vitally important step not to be missed! (Wondering what branding really is? Read this ASAP) This is where the magic happens! Doing this right from the beginning will save you so much time, money and energy in the long run, trust us! This is where you dive deep into clarifying what your business is all about, how to talk about it, who you serve and how your business is represented visually and how it is perceived. Your brand is so much more than just a logo and colour scheme. There is a lot of psychology behind branding and marketing. You’re brand’s personality and visual aesthetic should represent your business in a way that your target market will love. Here’s how.

Set-up shop and customize: With your customized brand in hand, it’s time to put it all out there. Choose a website platform (we love Squarespace and it comes with a personalized email address, but we’ve heard Wordpress, Wix and others are also good), review your target market assessment from the branding step above and choose the social media platforms you will use, set them up and customize them with your branding. Don’t forget to set up your branded email address and signature too! Remember, consistency in branding is key! That’s why you clarify your brand before willy nilly setting up online without a plan or strategy (unless you love doing things twice, but you don’t have time for that, girl!).

Stay tuned for next steps on how to build your business.

Keep motivated and get support from like-minded aspiring and rising female entrepreneurs in our private (and Free!) Facebook Group.